RU206: ARTIST, ACTIVIST, ART THERAPIST MELISSA DIAZ ON COMMUNITY BUILDING OPEN HOUSE BK

Episode 206 of Rendering Unconscious Podcast. Melissa Diaz is an artist, activist and a licensed, registered, board-certified art therapist. She holds a BFA in Painting from The University of Central Florida, an MPS in Art Therapy & Creativity Development from Pratt Institute and a certificate in Integrated Mental Health/Addiction Treatment. Melissa has 10 years of experience as a Creative Arts Therapist, working as a primary therapist, group therapist and program assistant director. She has utilized art therapy in a variety of settings, including inpatient and outpatient mental health, family shelters, schools and museums. Through these experiences, Melissa has had the opportunity to support, individuals experiencing difficulties with depression, anxiety, trauma, mental illness, developmental disorders, addiction, familial issues, life transitions, and stigmatization. Melissa practices an eclectic art therapy approach, utilizing Humanistic, Attachment, and Behavioral frameworks, tailoring each therapeutic experience to meet the client or group where they are at. Throughout all her work, she weaves in mindfulness practice and self-compassion. In addition to her therapeutic practice, Melissa founded Open House BK (est. 2010), a Brooklyn-based, community arts initiative that provides affordable pop-up events, emerging artist exhibitions, and therapeutic workshops. Open House strives to shed light on the arts and community as integral for social justice, personal healing and progress. https://www.instagram.com/openhousebk/ https://www.instagram.com/m_diaz_art/ Donate to Open House BK to help them become a New York State continuing education provider. https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=NKUW798V4LA8S&fbclid=IwAR3Db3_Ok0x_70Uk11Uc5TEN4qWWij0Zy07cJuChQr-OUdjZkJSH0-zw72o This discussion available to view at YouTube: https://youtu.be/xpVUd74vHdU Rendering Unconscious Podcast is hosted by psychoanalyst Dr. Vanessa Sinclair who interviews psychoanalysts, psychologists, scholars, creative arts therapists, writers, poets, philosophers, artists & other intellectuals about their process, work, world events, the current state of mental health care, politics, culture, the arts & more. Vanessa Sinclair, Psy.D. is a psychoanalyst based in Sweden, who works internationally. If you enjoy what we’re doing, please support the podcast at www.patreon.com/vanessa23carl For more info visit: www.drvanessasinclair.net www.trapart.net www.renderingunconscious.org The song at the end of the episode is “Let Her In” from the album “Night of the Hunter” by Vanessa Sinclair and Pete Murphy available from Highbrow Lowlife: https://vanessasinclairpetemurphy.bandcamp.com Many thanks to Carl Abrahamsson for the intro and outro music for RU Podcast. https://www.carlabrahamsson.com Image: Art by Melissa Diaz https://www.melissadiazart.com